Vongai Masuka

Zimbabwe’s former finance minister and prominent politician, Tendai Biti, was yesterday convicted for assault at the Harare Magistrate’s Court and is scheduled to be sentenced today.

Biti’s charges stem from an incident that occurred in 2020, during the Sharpe vs George Katsimberis fraud case, where he allegedly shouted at a state witness, Tatiana Aleshina, “you’re very, stupid, stupid, stupid idiot.”

According to witnesses, Biti, who was representing Mr. Katsimberis, charged at Aleshina, pointed his finger and repeatedly called her as a “very stupid, stupid, stupid idiot.”

The case was brought before the court on December 8, 2020, when Biti was initially remanded for assault. After a lengthy trial, the judgement was finally handed down yesterday.

According to the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe,

Biti made three applications requesting the prosecutor, Mr. Michael Reza, to recuse himself from the case.

“He made 3 applications asking the prosecutor Mr Michael Reza to rescue himself from the case.

“He also made a couple of applications seeking the recusal of the Magistrate. The accused person also applied to the high Court on a number of occasions in a bid to overturn the ruling of the court whenever the Magistrate made a ruling in favour of the state.” Reads the statement.